Star Wars: Disney removes same-sex kiss from The Rise of Skywalker in Singapore

New film has first same-sex kiss in franchise’s history

Disney has removed a brief scene of two women kissing from Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker in Singapore.

The film features the first same-sex kiss in the franchise’s history, and is shown in a flash when two women embrace among a crowd of characters.

Singapore’s media regulatory body told the BBC that Disney cut the scene to avoid it receiving a higher age rating. Without the kiss, the film is rated PG-13 in Singapore.

“The applicant has omitted a brief scene, which under the film classification guidelines would require a higher rating,” said a spokesperson from Infocomm Media Development Authority.

The kiss reportedly went uncensored in China, but was removed in the United Arab Emirates.

In Singapore, same-sex marriages are not recognised and gay sex is illegal.

Since Rise of Skywalker’s release earlier this week, it has divided critics and audiences, with some highlighting its sense of adventure and others criticising it for its moments of fan-service.

Instead of ignoring the mixed reception, Abrams – appearing on a Vanity Fair panel to promote the new film – acknowledged it by telling the audience they are “right” to have that viewpoint.

One Star Wars fan, meanwhile, was so excited to see the new film that he “punched a fellow cinemagoer in the face“ for using his phone during a screening.